How Dr. Aggrey won the 2024 KSSSA basketball title

On Saturday, 13 April, Taita Taveta-based Dr. Aggrey High School proved that they were not only the Coastal basketball giants but also a national powerhouse in the sport.

The side under coach Kevin Aran's guidance narrowly defeated Agoro Sare 56-54 in a closely contested final match to reclaim the title they last won in Nakuru in 2022.

The final match was a repeat of their second pool fixture where Dr. Aggrey suffered a narrow 54-53 defeat.

In an exclusive with Mozzart Sport, the school’s principal Robert Aran noted that the title was a long time coming.

He dedicated the win to the Coastal region for their unwavering support to the boys in the run-up to the nationals.

“We thank God that we have won this final though narrowly. In the pool match, we played against Agoro Sare, and we lost narrowly. I dedicate this win to the Coastal region who have been very supportive of the team as they prepared for this competition,” Aran offered.

Last year, the team came too close to qualifying for the final stage but they went down 59-52 to Dagoretti High School in the semifinals.

Despite that setback, they proceeded to the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games in Rwanda where they ended their campaign in third place.

It was then that they vowed to reclaim their title this year. According to the Principal, the win was bolstered by their participation in the competitive Mombasa Basketball League where they sit at the top of the log.

“We were expecting the win. The team has been training so well. We play in the Coastal Basketball League and we are the top team there. When we came here, we could harness the skills gathered in the league games. Winning was automatic,” he continued.

Aran further revealed that beyond the triumph on the basketball court, the school placed a strong emphasis on academic excellence to nurture individuals who succeed in all facets of life.

For instance, four students who were in the 2022 team that won their inaugural KSSSA basketball title are in the USA pursuing scholarships in basketball.

“Apart from talent development, we are the best school in academics. We send many students to university every year and we believe that a child can be an all-rounder. They can win in class and win through their talents. To us, it is a wonderful opportunity,” he averred.

With the win now behind them, the team will go back to the drawing board and intensify training ahead of the FEASSSA games slated for August.

“We will go back and train hard and build resilience among our players because Ugandans play wonderful basketball and for us to break through, we have to train hard. In our major appearance there, we managed position two. This time, if we focus well, we will bring the trophy to Kenya after a very long time,” he concluded.